Along the Harvest Trails and Markets on the ABC Radio

Hello everyone! I had the pleasure of chatting with Simon once again during my monthly segment on harvests and farmer’s markets. Here’s a SREENSHOT of our conversation from this morning, so you can explore the wonderful farmers markets, pick-your-own events, and farm visits happening throughout the Sydney Basin. Enjoy!

Markets 
Northside Product Markets North Sydney 

Saturday 2nd November 2024

8 am to 12 noon 

Peaches - Australian Anzac Peaches 

For fans of the Australian Anzac peach, farmer Yuri will have them at his Produce From Orange stall. 

Released in 1915 and named in honour of the Anzacs, this early-season, old-style freestone peach is white-fleshed, juicy, sweet, and aromatic. The skin has a deep pink blush over a cream background.

Sounds like peach perfection!

Also, look out for the new season.

Garlic - Spring garlic, also called green garlic 

Spring garlic is grown without chemicals and sprays. Grown in Braidwood and the surrounds thanks to their frosty winter mornings and hot summer days, brings out the best in garlic flavours.

Carriageworks Farmers Market 

Saturday 2nd November 2024

8 am to 1 pm 

60+ stallholders are ready and rearing to go with wonderful Aussie-grown spring fruit and veg from across the state and brunch options to get your weekend off the perfect start. Check out the full list of stallholders: https://carriageworks.click/stallholders

Camden Fresh Produce Market

Open Every Saturday 7 am - 12 Noon 

Camden Town Farm 4o Exeter Street Camden

https://www.camdenproducemarket.com.au/

https://www.facebook.com/camdenfreshproducemarketarket

Central Coast

Mangrove Mountain Farmers and Artisans Market  

Sunday, 3rd November 2024, is run the first Sunday of every month. 

9 am to 2 pm

Local fresh produce from the Central Coast surrounds. 

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555652790681

Gosford City Farmers Market

is on Sunday 7 am to 1 pm 

The Night Market scheduled for last night has been rescheduled to Friday, 6th December 2024, at the Newcastle Showground.

https://www.facebook.com/gosfordcityfarmersmarket

Organic Food Markets

Hosted right across Sydney - Organic Food Markets that are held on Saturdays or Sundays. 

From the Innerwest to the Northern Beaches. 

When you buy your weekly fresh food at the markets, you can buy just as much, or as little, as you need…which means you always get fresh produce and there's no food (or money) wasted!

Leichardt, Saturay, 8 am to 1 pm. 

Marrickville, Sunday, 9 am to 3 pm. 

Seaforth Sunday 8 am 1 pm. 

Mona Vale Sunday 8:30 am to 3 pm. 

https://www.organicfoodmarkets.com.au/

November is Urban Agricultural Month. 

A celebration of urban agriculture across Australia. 

Happening right now across backyards, community gardens, laneways, schools and markets across Australia’s towns & cities – connect with the people and places that nourish your community.

A great way to connect with local people to share, learn and celebrate through food.

Head over to the event map to find the urban farm, workshop or experience for you

https://urbanagriculturemonth.org.au

PYO EVENTS

TNT Produce Pick Your Own

Sweet and juicy Cherry Season has begun! 

Keep an eye on their website for cherry updates as its early in the season with limited PYO. 

Entry to farm $20 per person you can eat while you pick!

Children 3 to 12 years $15

Children under 3 free

Cherries $25 kilo 

Strawberries $20 kilo 

153 Kurts Road Bilpin

https://tntproduce.com.au/

Bilpin Fruit Bowl 

There are lots to pick from this weekend

Strawberries, yellow flesh peaches, apricots and white mulberries.

PYO Open 

Saturday 2nd November from 10 am-2 pm and

Sunday 3rd November from 10 am-2 pm

Plus, they have the biggest PYO strawberry farm in Sydney.  We have over 2 acres and over 70,00 strawberry plants grown above ground in 2 separate hothouses.  

Available for picking this weekend:

Strawberries $20.00/kg

Apricots $12/kg

Peaches $6/kg

Mulberries $30/kg

Bookings are not necessary; you can just turn up and get in.  If you want to book: 

https://bilpinfruitbowl.com.au/pro.../pick-your-own-booking/

Eat all you want while in the farm

Entry fee: Adults $20.00 per person

Children $10.00 per person

Glenbernie Family Farm 

PYO Sunflowers 

Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd November 2024 

No Bookings Required!

Glenbernie Family Farms, 610 Bells Line Of Road, Kurmond

 Entrance Fee:

- Adults: $10

- Children (4-12): $5

- Kids 3 and under: FREE

Flower Prices:

- Sunflowers & PYO Flowers: $6 each

- Iceland Poppy: $3 a stem

Snapdragon: $6

https://glenberniefamilyfarms.com.au/

Photo credit ABC Weekend Mornings

A huge shoutout to Simon Marnie from ABC 702 AM radio! Don’t miss out—download the app now to catch all the exciting moments from the show.

Our paddocks

Welcome to our Little Valley Farm, nestled in the heart of the breathtaking Hunter Valley. You can now also follow us on our YouTube channel. I'm Daniela Riccio, and I'm so thrilled to have you here with us. Whether you're just discovering the wonders of alpacas or a seasoned animal lover, our journey together promises to be one filled with inspiration, learning, and a deep connection to the land and these majestic creatures.

At Little Valley Farm, every day is a celebration of life in the Wollombi Valley. We believe in the power of sustainable farming, the magic of nature, and the profound wisdom these gentle alpacas offer. Our channel is your gateway to learning about alpaca farming and embracing a lifestyle that harmonizes with the rhythms of nature.

Join us as we share our experiences, tips, and the heartwarming stories of our alpaca family. Whether you're near or far, come and immerse yourself in the beauty of the Hunter Valley, and let the tranquillity of the Wollombi Valley touch your soul.

This is more than just farming—it's a way of life. Let's explore it together!

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At Little Valley Farm in the Hunter Valley, every day brings a new chapter in the story of sustainable farming and the special relationships we form with our animals. Today, I'd like to give you a glimpse of what it takes to ensure the well-being of our alpacas and donkeys, two species that bring a lot of joy and character to our farm.

One of the essential tasks we perform regularly is rotating the animals between paddocks. This practice isn’t just about giving them fresh pasture; it’s a crucial part of maintaining the health of the land and the animals themselves. By allowing the paddocks to rest between rotations, we give the grass time to recover, which ensures that when the alpacas and donkeys return, they have access to nutrient-rich forage. This simple yet effective practice helps to prevent overgrazing and supports the natural ecosystem of our farm.

However, farming isn’t always picture-perfect, and today was a reminder of that. As I walked through a paddock that had been resting, I realized I’d overlooked cleaning the water trough, and it had become quite dirty. It’s moments like these that remind me farming is as much about attention to detail as it is about the broader vision. The trough needed a thorough cleaning, which is just one of the many small but important tasks that keep our animals healthy and happy.

One thing you might not know is why we keep our alpacas and donkeys in separate paddocks. While they’re both gentle creatures, donkeys have a playful nature that can sometimes be a bit too rough for our alpacas, especially the smaller ones. To ensure their safety and comfort, we’ve found it best to let them enjoy their own space, where they can roam and play at their own pace without any risk of injury.

This careful management of our paddocks and animals is just one aspect of what makes Little Valley Farm a special place. It’s not just about farming; it’s about creating a balanced environment where animals thrive.

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Alpaca Morning Chores

Alpacas roam the paddocks while we use our Greystone paddock vac to keep the paddocks super clean. By cleaning up their dung piles, we can help reduce the worm burden in our livestock and ensure that our alpacas are happy and healthy all year round.

Read more on alpaca communal dung piles here.

Join us for our next alpaca INTRODUCTION TO ALPACA WORKSHOP in the Hunter Valley.

Little Valley Farm June updates

Hello everyone, welcome to June! Can you believe how fast the year is flying by?

Here's what's happening in June:

Alpaca Workshop

Join us for our Introduction to Alpaca Workshop on Sunday, June 16th, 2024, at 10:30 am in Laguna. Limited spots are available, so book online to secure your spot!

Alpacas as Pets

If you already have alpacas, remember to keep their vitamins up due to the fluctuating weather. Run your FECS before drenching and make sure you know which worms you are drenching for to avoid creating worm-drench resistance, using unnecessary chemicals and spending money needlessly. With the recent rain, persistent and heavy rains can leach nutrients from the soil, leading to nutrient-deficient plants. Make sure you have enough hay stocks and provide supplementary feed to the alpacas.

Want to Buy Alpacas for Your Hobby Farm?

In July, we have some delightful and laid-back alpacas that would be perfect additions to your hobby farm. Super chilled females to join your farm family.

Yarn

With the cool weather finally here, it's time to start knitting with our 100% handspun alpaca yarn. Check out our website to see what we have, and we'll be adding more to the shop cart shortly.

Handspun in the Hunter

Wear alpaca close to your heart.

Okay, I'm heading outside to feed the alpacas, donkeys, and chickens - including Whitey the silkie hen and her 9 chicks. It's a lot of fun watching these little things scurry about my feet. Adorable!

Talk soon, Daniela

Never to old for an alpaca cuddle wtih Taratini.

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Alpaca Husbandry Hands-on Day workshop

Thinking about getting alpacas?

Are you considering getting alpacas? Have you recently acquired alpacas and want to learn how to take better care of them? Our workshop is the best investment to start your own alpaca adventure. If you don't have alpacas yet, you will learn the essentials of alpaca management and determine if they are the right animal for you and your property. If you already have alpacas, you will learn all the essentials to care for them so they can be happy, healthy, and thrive on your farm.

Join Euan and Daniela of Little Valley Farm Alpaca Farm, established in 2012 in the Hunter Valley, Wollombi Valley.

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The next introduction workshop will be on 16th June and 21st July 2024. You can book via our website.

Shearing 2024

September 2024 will be our shearing weekend. Dates for this event are yet to be confirmed.

Husbandry Day - Get involved

The Hands-on Husbandry Day is designed for those who have previously participated in our Introduction to Alpaca workshop. Attendees of our previous workshop are welcome to join the morning session, which will cover drenching, vaccination, body scoring, and nail trimming for each alpaca. There is no charge for this husbandry day, and you are welcome to bring your children so they can watch and learn, too.

The next date for this is Sunday, June 9th, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. Places are limited, so book in advance with Daniela. We will be conducting body scoring, nail trimming, oral vitamins, and note-taking on every alpaca here.

We love what we do and want to share it with you.

Alpaca workshops for new and potential owners by Little Valley Farm in the Hunter Valley.

Weddings in Wollombi Valley

Whether you're looking for a rustic country wedding or want to tie the knot in total style, Wollombi Valley has now got it all. A range of new and stunning venues, with or without accommodation options, is now available right across this beautiful valley. 

Here are our favourite speciality Wedding venues in the valley (not in any order as we love them all):

1. Redleaf Wollombi

2. Woodhouse at Redwood Park Wollombi

3. Stonehurst Cedar Creek

4. Mystwood Weddings Laguna

5. Grays Inn Garden Wollombi Village

6. Hollybrook Sweetman’s Creek Wollombi

7. Laguna Hall Laguna

Redleaf Wollombi 

On the drive to Redleaf, the rich green pastures of the region's farms give away to serene bushland before you get to the 10-acre property, nestled in its own valley a few minutes from the nearby town of Wollombi—approximately 17 km from our farm.

Redleaf boasts six king-sized bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, a swimming pool, wood fireplace, billiards room, library and a lovely large pond to say 'I do'. With its French-inspired building and lavender garden, it is simply stunning and ultra-elegant.

Woodhouse at Redwood Park Wollombi 

The Woodhouse is an impressive, architecturally designed space that will make your big day unforgettable.

The exterior of this timber building is designed to feel rustic with an elegance that only the most refined European designs could achieve. The whole space has been thoughtfully planned out, from its lofty 7m ceilings and 4-metre windows all way down into every detail like a freestanding fireplace, a huge dancefloor and lounge area covered in fairy lights for that little magical touch.  Approximately 17 km from our farm.

Stonehurst Cedar Creek 

Create a magical celebration among the vines, poplar grove and rich history of the vineyard. Stonehurst Cedar Creek offers you a one-of-a-kind location on this 550-acre property for your wedding day. Stonehurst sleeps up to thirty people.  Around 22 km drive from our farm.

Mystwood

This stunning property is set on 140 acres of rolling hills, open pasture and native bushland and is styled with a country and bush elegance. The marquee seats 110 people. Adjacent to this gorgeous space, you will find the rustic bar amenities DJ booth with an outdoor dance floor all residing under a huge 5-meter high arbour lit by 600 metres of fairy lights. It is under a 10 km drive from Little Valley Farm. Speak to Sue of Mystwood Weddings for more.

Hollybrook Hunter Valley 

What better way to celebrate love than with a beautiful country wedding on a historic 100-acre dairy farm? Relax in the peace and quiet of the 1900 homestead buildings, mindfully renovated so they retain their heritage while providing modern amenities. Hollybrook sleeps ten adults and is perfect for those intimate weddings. Approximately 18 km from our farm.

Noyce Brothers Wine / Grays Inn Wollombi 

With a pergola covered in seasonal purple wisteria, this hidden gem will take you by surprise. Full of character and historical charm lies behind the cellar door, an luscious green garden waiting to be transformed with creativity oozing out from every corner! Make it your own space that celebrates under open skies. Grays Inn sleeps seven, and there is a cafe and intimate restaurant to book in also. It is 11 km from our farm.

Laguna Hall

Laguna Hall has lovely country rustic vibes. If you're on a budget and want an intimate wedding under the radar, this is your place. You can bring your caterers and style the hall your way.

At Little Valley Farm, we do not host weddings, but we can accommodate intimate events for small groups. Please email Daniela for more information.

Alpaca workshop in the Hunter Valley

Hi there! I just wanted to let you know that we're hosting our next alpaca workshop on Sunday, 20th August 2023. It's an excellent opportunity to learn about these amazing animals! We hold these workshops once a month in the beautiful Laguna/Wollombi Valley, which is just 90 minutes from Sydney and an hour from the Central Coast.

Our alpaca workshops are open to children; each child will receive a special alpaca gift. We highly recommend booking online in advance for our monthly Sunday workshops, as spots are limited.

We hope to see you there! Daniela, Little Valley Farm

This is our BB, Suri weanling. Isn’t he lovely!

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We offer accommodation for up to four adults if you want to turn your visit into a weekend getaway. Alternatively, we can suggest one-night stays at Noyce Brothers Wine/Grays Inn Wollombi, located in the central area of Wollombi Village and just a ten-minute drive from our farm. The village has various dining options, including the Wollombi Tavern for dinner and drinks, the Myrtle and Stone Cafe for charming cafe vibes, and the Wollombi Kitchen for breakfast and lunch.

We look forward to seeing you at Little Valley Farm in Laguna for our alpaca workshop.

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Hello Winter 2023

It's that magical time of year again - winter in the valley! We can't help but feel excited about bonfire nights, toasty marshmallows, and our luxurious Finnish dry sauna. There's so much to appreciate during this season; we're ready to soak it all in.

What's New

You may have all seen the photos of our gorgeous donkeys, Maisie May and Loxie Love. We can excitedly introduce our new jack, His Royal Highness Honkie Hamlet of Laguna. 

We picked up this lovely jack on his majesty weekend hence the HRH title. We always like to have fun naming our beloved pets. 

Our donkeys are the rare English/Irish breed, and we have them for their gentle and friendly nature. We can't wait to breed our girls when they age four. It will be another learning curve for me. For now, it's lots of halter training, hoof trimming, brushes and heaps of cuddles. 

Smitten to bits by this little Jack. He already has me wrapped around his hoof.

Alpaca PURE Duvets 

We love our new made-in-Australia Alpaca PURE Duvets. Our bedroom is super cold, and it's such a great time to snuggle and enjoy every moment in bed. If you have recently stayed in our cabins, you would have also enjoyed them. We have them available in Double, Queen and King to purchase. HINT: Use your discount code below.  Shop Duvets here.

What's coming up 

We are excited to share some wonderful news about the upcoming Alpaca Workshops. These workshops will take place in August and will continue on a monthly basis, every Sunday. To secure your spot for you and your child and to find out the dates for 2023, kindly follow the link provided. We can't wait to have you be a part of this fantastic experience, and we have an alpaca gift for the kids to take home. See the alpaca workshop dates here and to book.

Alpaca Sales for pets 

Coming up Springtime. Make sure you follow our blog for updates on our alpaca progress. Keep up to date here or drop me an email.

Let's Yarn

Cool days and cold nights mean staying at home and enjoying spinning, knitting or crocheting. We have some wonderful handspun and fibre-milled yarn available on our shop cart. And make sure you show us your creations.  Shop the yarn here.

Thank you 

Thank you so much for subscribing to our mailing list! We really appreciate your support. As a small token of our gratitude, we wanted to offer you a discount code that you can use on our website. This code will give you 10% off your stay, alpaca duvets, plus any alpaca yarn you purchase. Just use the code -

SUB-ALL-10 at checkout! Thank you again for joining our community. See you all soon. Daniela

Take it slow in 2022 in Laguna Hunter Valley

Welcome to 2022! Happy New Year to everybody.

What’s happening the year.

Get in early and book your Valentines Day midweek escape with us or Easter with your buddies on the Train and the new Shearers Studio. Enjoy our early bird discount when you book for four adults.

Farm Workshops

Alpaca workshops are back and better than ever. Our workshop will help new alpaca owners get started or provide the opportunity for people who already have their hearts set on owning a herd to learn more about these majestic animals.

It is a great way to introduce yourself to an entire herd of wool-bearing friends at your feet? So book in for our first workshop for the year on January 9th. Check dates with Daniela as we will add more for Summer and Autumn 2022.

Train Stay

Imagine a life without stress, where you can do nothing but relax on the train hang out deck overlooking the beautiful scenery of alpacas and mini donkeys. Imagine never having to answer any calls or check your phone!

Spend your evenings enjoying wood-fired pizza and the glow of bonfire and evening stars: nothing but great friends, good wine and excellent food.

So now is the perfect chance to experience our unique getaway with your loved ones. The four-person country escape in the vintage Train and new Shearer's Studio. Two adults in the train and two adults up in the Shearers Studio. Early bird bookings get 20% off - $1200 only $960

Dates for Easter 2022 are currently available from Thursday, April 14th for four adults.

Valentine’s Day from Monday 14th February for two adults currently available.

PROMO CODE: EARLYBIRD20% for 4 adult bookings only.

Photo Charlotte Curd for Riparide and Matt Hoospool

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Little Valley Farm is based in Laguna in the Wollombi Valley, Hunter Valley. We are only 90 minutes from Sydney but feels like a million miles away. To check availability contact Daniela via email.

Frequently Asked Questions here.

Little Valley Farm In the Media

Be a LVF VIP member

Piaf says... sign up to our LVF mailing list for all VIP events and something special coming to LVF next season.

Be the first in the know, just like Piaf!

Subscribe here

All VIPs events will now be on our website and mailing list. We will only email you when we have something to say... otherwise, we are working outside with the alpacas - and that is soo much more fun than spamming people!

Baby Piaf at Little Valley Farm, Hunter Valley.

Little Valley Farm is based in Laguna in the Hunter Valley. We are not open to the public as we like to keep it exclusive for our farm stay guests.

We do, however, open for Australian Alpaca week and for special events including our monthly alpaca workshops for new alpaca owners.

For intimate eco-weddings, corporate events and girls weekend getaway please feel free to contact us with your enquiry.